ENGLAND will face Warwickshire in a three-day warm-up match for the Ashes at Edgbaston next summer.

When the 2009 fixture list was published yesteday, it contained an unexpected jewel for the Bears’ supporters.

On July 1, 2 and 3, Warwickshire will take on Kevin Pietersen’s side to supply England with some match practice as thoughts turn from the helterskelter of the Twenty20 World Cup to the serious business of the Ashes.

“The England game is a very welcome addition to our fixtures,” said Bears’ chief executive Colin Povey. “England are keen to get some match preparation in advance of the Ashes and they wanted to play at one of the Test grounds.

Warwickshire will launch their season, back in the Championship First Division with a visit to Somerset, at Taunton, starting on April 15.